Morning rounds ...

For those who have not picked up the Internet meme that next year will be too late for Western, Mr. Morris Dalla Costa has some bon mots from coach Greg Marshall and QB Mike Faulds:

Faulds: "Now anything less than a Vanier Cup is a little bit of a disappointment. I put that pressure on myself, not just the team, the community, the media, I put that on myself I want to win the Vanier."

Marshall: "We got close" — at McMaster in 2003 — "with a freshman, Adam Archibald. But it’s tough to win with a freshman."

For those who like trends, since 2001 is 3-0 when it hosts national semi-finals in even-numbered years and 1-3 when it goes on the road in odd-numbered seasons. The one win was only by four points, too. (London Free Press)

Laval's Hec Crighton Trophy-winning QB, Benoit Groulx, is aware of his 0-2 record in national semi-finals outside Quebec. He's enjoying fatherhood and home ownership (congratulations are in order!). (Le Soleil)

More from Mr. Tsumura — UBC Thunderbirds QB Billy Greene and receiver Spencer Betts are best buddies who go back a long, long way (and have some long, long touchdowns in their future). (Little Man on Campus)

(How about a pre-season story which is not about a team's quarterback? The Western Canada papers and the outlets in the Kingston and London market seem to realize a football team is 45 finely meshed gears, and the quarterback, quoth Jonathan Moxon in the cinematic classic Varsity Blues, is "only one man ... only one man.")

BASKETBALL

Carleton alumnus Aaron Doornekamp's stat line from Canada's 55-point whomping of Mexico at the FIBA Americas: Three points on 1-of-4 shooting, five assists, four rebounds. There might have been some shenanigans on the part of the stat crew: Canada was credited with 30 assists on 35 baskets (maybe they were giving two on some plays, like in hockey.)

Canada plays the U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday (4 p.m. ET, The Score).

Amey Doyle will serve as interim coach of the two-time national champion McGill Martlets (pains a Queen'sman to type those six words) while Peter Smith, goalie Charline Labonté and defender Catherine Ward are with the Canadian Olympic team.